Thursday, September 24, 2009

Back to School FAQs


Since enrolling at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) to take the Legal Practitioners Qualifications Exams (LPQE) I have gotten a lot of questions about what it is all about. I thought I would start out answering a few “Frequently Asked Questions”.


What type of program is LPQE?

In Zambia, the law degree (LLB) is part of a student’s undergraduate studies. After finishing this degree, you are considered a lawyer BUT if you want to be called to the Bar and appear in the Zambia Courts, you must pass the Legal Practitioners Qualifications Exams (LPQE). To take these exams you must participate in a 9 month course of study at ZIALE, taking classes in 11 subjects. These courses are supposed to be focused on the actual practice of law, rather than legal theory. Students are also required to work at a law firm during this time. At the end of the course, if you clear the exams in all of the subjects and have performed satisfactorily at the law firm, you qualify to be called to the Bar and appear in court.


What subjects are you studying? What is the schedule like?

The 11 subjects we study are: High Court Civil Procedure, Domestic Relations, Subordinate Court Civil Procedure, Probate & Intestate Succession, Criminal Procedure, Commercial Transactions, Evidence, Conveyancing, Accounts, Ethics, and Company Law. We take all of these courses SIMULTANEOUSLY over the entire nine months. It’s definitely a challenge to keep up with everything! We have two one-hour classes every afternoon, four days a week, and three classes on Friday. In the mornings the students are all required to work at a law firm and journal each task they perform to make sure we are putting our learning into practice. IJM Zambia also functions as a law firm (Lusitu Chambers) so I have continued my work with them while fulfilling ZIALE’s work requirement. Classes started in June with a three week break in September. Mid-year exams will be in December and our final exams in late March/early April. After that, we wait until June to find out our results and the passers are called to the bar in July.


How are you adjusting to going to school in another country/culture?

In many ways I have adjusted quite well to ZIALE. Because the official language of Zambia is English, the laws are all in English, and therefore, all legal programs are also in English. There are times that a term or two stump me because of the lecturer’s accent or a case name whose spelling baffles me, but usually some classmate is ready to whisper a quick tip when they see my puzzled expression. Even though I am the only student out of 75 who is not from the region, I have felt mostly at home and have enjoyed developing relationships with several of my classmates. It’s fun to swap questions about our native countries and cultures. One thing that has been tough to get used to is the dress code - yes - ZIALE has a strict dress code! I was shocked to find out the day before classes started that I was expected to wear a Black/Grey/Navy Suit with a White/Sky Blue/Lilac shirt every day, no matter the weather. This was a challenge since I only had one black suit and a couple of white shirts with me in Zambia. I’ve managed to build up my wardrobe until I have a few more suits and a shirt for of each day of the week. At least I don’t have to spend much time deciding what to wear!


What are your plans once you finish?

That is a good question that I don’t have an answer for yet. It was a little disheartening hear the exam results for the 2008-2009 LPQE class - 12 students cleared out of 79! The statistics don’t exactly boost my confidence. If I am fortunate enough to clear all the exams on my first attempt, I could be donning my robe and wig in July. However, if not, I have the option of trying again in September 2010. Whether it’s practicing in Zambia, working with an international organization, or some other direction, I am confident that God will use this experience somehow for His glory! In the meantime, I am learning how to take things one day at a time.


Click Here to see more photos of ZIALE

Leia Mais…

Finances

This is something that I hate talking about, but just for your information...


Just as my internship with International Justice Mission was volunteer, I am continuing as a Legal Fellow on a volunteer basis. This means that I have to meet all of my travel, living, and education expenses. If you are interested in supporting my work in Zambia financially, there are two different options.


Make a tax-deductible donation to International Justice Mission on my behalf. This money will be used to reimburse me for specific expenses such as plane tickets, medical insurance, rent, etc. Donations can be made as a monthly or one-time gift. To donate online, go to this page and select my name from the drop down menu. Checks made out to IJM can also me mailed to my USA address.


The second option is to contribute money directly to me. These gifts will not be tax deductible.


I was one of those cookie-baking, lemonade-selling kids that always tried to look after myself by my own hard work. It has been a real challenge for me to work hard, but trust God rather than my own two hands. Please pray that I will finally realize who the True Provider is and rely on Him to meet my needs.

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Sorry for the delays!

Just a note of explanation on the neglected state of my blog: My laptop crashed back in April which made communications a little tough. It was not a good enough reason to result in five months of silence, but I will try to do better now that I am equipped with a brand new MacBook Pro! (Thanks Bradys!) I am also going to be putting up some photo galleries on another site that will be linked from this blog.


Hoping to make up for past neglect,
Sara

Leia Mais…

The Adventure Continues!

Last time many of you heard from me, I was two months into my stay in Zambia, adjusting to my surroundings and recounting my favorite things. So much has happened since then! As many of you already know, my six-month internship with International Justice Mission has turned into a whole new adventure. As of this week, I have committed to continue my work with IJM Zambia as a legal fellow through September of 2010. I am really excited to see how the Lord will use me in this beautiful developing country.


As May arrived, I began to think about my future and wonder what it would hold. I was enjoying my time in Zambia and began to see the abundance of opportunities it held. I was ready to extend my stay beyond my August return date, but which path should I take? Over the next couple of weeks, I had several different people encourage me to apply to the Zambia Institute of Legal Education to pursue getting admitted to practice in Zambia’s courts. It seemed an impossible option with classes starting in June, but doors flew open and in a matter of weeks I had been accepted.


Studying for the bar exams seemed like such a huge step. And what could I hope to accomplish with so little to offer in the view of such big challenges? Then I heard a message from IJM’s founder Gary Haugen on “The Unfamiliar Passions of God”. His illustration of the little boy with the lunch of loaves and fishes and Christ’s simple request “Bring them here to Me” made me realize it’s not about what I have to offer, but that I am willing to put it all in His Hands. So I went ahead, trusting that God would use this opportunity for His glory, even though I wasn’t exactly sure how.

It seems every day my faith is tested and strengthened. It is often a struggle, yet I am learning that my weakness and failings can draw me closer to God. One verse in particular has been a daily prayer: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:6)


IJM Zambia has been very supportive and my studies have worked hand-in-hand with my work in the Legal Department. I am also grateful for each of you. Your thoughts and prayers, emails of encouragement, and financial support means so much! It’s nice to know that though I may be on another continent, I have not been forgotten!


And so my Zambian Adventure continues...

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